Office Christmas Party London: 6 Ideas Beyond the Pub

An office Christmas party London teams still talk about in January needs more than a booked table and a bar tab. December pubs are loud and packed. The quieter half of the team often slips home by nine.

This guide covers six bookable Christmas party ideas London teams can act on, all from suppliers in our directory. Each one suits a festive-season team get-together. Two of the listings mention Christmas or celebrations by name, and we say which.

If you want the planning side first, read our guide on how to plan an office Christmas party. Then come back and pick an activity.

Which Office Christmas Party London Ideas Are Worth Booking?

Every supplier below places itself in London or the area around it, so travel stays short. Prices and group sizes appear only where the supplier lists them. For the rest, you’ll need to ask for a quote.

1. Glass workshop with E3 Creative Glass

E3 Creative Glass is a female-owned East London business. It was founded and is run by artist and educator Nadine Mahoney. Teams get hands-on time to experiment with colour and glass.

Its listing mentions Christmas parties by name. It offers “alternative Christmas parties” alongside team socials and away days. Everyone makes something unique to take home.

• Good for: teams who want a calm, creative party where nobody needs artistic skills.
• Worth knowing: the listing says no creative experience is needed. It takes groups of 13 to 30, for anything from two hours to a full day.

More hands-on options sit in the arts and making directory.

2. Improv murder mystery with Moonstone Murders

Moonstone Murders runs improv murder mystery events with professional comedy improvisers only. The listing says “you name the place and we’ll bring the case”. The team plays the detectives and works the case together.

Moonstone covers London and the counties around it, including Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire. That helps if your office is outside the centre.

• Good for: mixed teams who like a laugh and a bit of friendly competition.
• Worth knowing: there’s a wide choice of pre-written cases, plus bespoke options. The listing is tagged for Christmas and celebrations, and it takes groups of up to 150.

3. Open-fire cooking with The Garden Classroom

The Garden Classroom is an award-winning Islington charity. Its corporate sessions include open-fire cooking, forest school skills, gardening and fire craft in North London’s green spaces. Venues include Newington Green, Whittington Park and Gillespie Park Nature Reserve.

Every booking contributes to its charitable programmes for disadvantaged people in Islington and Hackney. Bookings also come with photography and a tailored CSR impact report. Your internal comms team will like that.

• Good for: groups of 10 to 20 who’d rather cook over a fire than sit through a set menu.
• Worth knowing: the listing gives pricing from £500 for a half-day gardening session up to £2,000 for a full-day fire craft or cooking session. For more cooking and tasting ideas, see the food and drink directory.

4. Woodland bushcraft with Wildeye Adventures

Wildeye Adventures runs woodland bushcraft team building at venues in London, Surrey, Kent and Buckinghamshire. Activities can include shelter building, fire-lighting, campfire creation, archery and team competitions.

The listing says no outdoor experience is needed. It also says the focus is teamwork “rather than physical endurance”. That’s good news for anyone who dreads a hike.

• Good for: teams who want to get out of the office and do something practical together.
• Worth knowing: sessions run from half a day to several days. Some locations offer indoor meeting facilities and toilets, so check your venue. Its team days suit groups of 13 to 30. Pricing is bespoke and depends on group size, location and programme.

5. Forest bathing with Tansy in the Wild

December is busy. Many teams are tired by the time the party comes round. Tansy in the Wild offers forest bathing team building in London, led by founder Tansy Dowman, an award-winning Forest Bathing Guide and TEDx speaker.

Sessions can include forest bathing, mindful walking, Qigong and guided reflection. The listing says people are welcome “without pressure to share or perform”. Nobody has to give a speech.

• Good for: a team that wants a restful end to a hard year, not a night of noise.
• Worth knowing: experiences range from a woodland team session to an away-day workshop. Each is shaped around your people and setting. The listing gives a group size of 31 to 60.

6. Beekeeping with Bees & Refugees

Bees & Refugees is a community-led organisation. It lists beekeeping team building in London. It works with refugees, young people, schools, older residents and local communities across London and Kent.

Its activities cover beekeeping, farming, foraging, outdoor cooking and workshops. The aim is to build confidence, skills and connection.

• Good for: teams who want their party to have a community side.
• Worth knowing: the listing gives groups of 13 to 60 and sessions of up to two hours, but no prices. Ask what a December session looks like before you commit.

Book the Activity Before You Book the Venue

Most office Christmas party London plans start with a venue. Start with the people instead. Acas advises asking staff what they would enjoy, because tastes differ. Ask who will skip a loud night out and why. A shy new starter, a team member who doesn’t drink and a colleague with a long commute all need a reason to come.

Then agree the basics with your finance lead. Fix a budget per head, a date and a rough headcount before you email anyone. Suppliers can’t quote well without those three facts.

Next, ask each supplier four plain questions:

• What does a December session look like?
• What is the maximum and minimum group size?
• Is there an indoor option if the weather turns?
• What will the final price be, all in?

Last, tell the team early. A hands-on activity needs people to know what to wear and what to expect. Send the details a week ahead. A short message saves a lot of awkward questions on the day.

Not sure a daytime activity suits your office? Many of these suppliers also run team days outside December. A party that works can double as a trial run for next year’s away day.

The Bottom Line

The best party you can book is the one your quietest colleague wants to attend. Pick an activity with a clear task and no pressure to perform. Then book early, because December dates go first.

If you need one quick filter for your office Christmas party London shortlist, use group size. Listed sizes run from 10 to 20 at The Garden Classroom up to 150 at Moonstone Murders.

Nobody has to wear a paper hat. You’re welcome to bring some anyway.

Team spread across offices, or based in the US? A virtual option such as Escape From The Meeting works for everyone, wherever they log in.

For a wider search, browse our team building activities in London guide. You can also search the full Something Different directory. More festive Christmas party ideas London teams can use sit in our Christmas party ideas for work guide.

Related Articles

• Team building activities in London
• How to plan an office Christmas party
• Christmas party ideas for work
• Something Different directory

Photos supplied by Moonstone Murders (top), The Garden Classroom and Bees & Refugees.